IHSS 2023: Joy Anima Debrah Takes on LGBTQ Law
In a compelling statement at IHSS 2nd Edition, Mrs. Joy Anima Debrah addressed the pressing issue of violence against LGBTQ individuals.
She emphasized the importance of upholding the inalienable right to live without fear and assault.
Debrah highlighted the detrimental impact of bills in parliament that, when passed, could exacerbate violence against LGBTQ people. She posed a crucial question:
Are LGBTQ persons human beings deserving of these fundamental rights?
Debrah underlined the diversity of human identities and called for a welcoming and tolerant society, even in a predominantly religious nation like Ghana.
She stressed that the majority should not impinge on the rights of others.
Referencing the Ghanaian constitution, which grants the right to assembly and association, Debrah argued that LGBTQ individuals have these rights as well.
She urged lawmakers to amend the bill in parliament to be more inclusive and focus on a change process that offers help rather than criminalization, drawing parallels with how criminalizing theft hasn’t eradicated theft but only driven it underground.
Debrah emphasized the need for extensive engagement to reach LGBTQ individuals and prevent them from going underground or unnoticed.
She reiterated that the right to healthcare is fundamental for everyone, including LGBTQ individuals, and called for the end of stigmatization and discrimination to ensure their access to quality healthcare.
In her impassioned plea, Mrs. Joy Anima Debrah called for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to LGBTQ rights, emphasizing the universal principles of dignity, equality, and human rights.
Also read: Hon. Sam George Addresses LGBTQ Issues at IHSS 2023
